picard



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. PICARD.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. PIOARD.

BBEBGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

Patented N0 n. PETERS, Pholo-Lnhcgraphor, wnhmmn, n. c

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

, A. PIOARD.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

T'ym... 1

N. PETERS, Phnlo-L- hu n hw, Washington D c UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDRE PlUARD, OF MONTAIGU, FRANCE.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,583, dated November 14, 1882.

Application filed August 24, 1882. (No model.) Patented in France February 3, 1879, No, 128,840; in Belgium January 19. 1880,

' No. 50,318; and in England January .20, 1880, No. 249.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDRE PICARD, of Montaigu, (Jura,) France, have invented Improvements in Breech-Loading Guns; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of the same.

The object of the invention is to make cer tain improvements upon the fire-arm patented to me February 7, 1882, and numbered 253,422.

The accompanying drawings show general and detailed views of this mechanism.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal view of the mechanism adapted to the stock of a gun. Fig. 2shows a longitudinal section ofthe same. Figs. 3 and 3 show a longitudinal view and plan of the breech-box. Figs. 4, 4, and 4 show a side elevation, an end view, and a plan of the movable breech-block. Figs. 5 and 5 show a front view and plan of the extractor. Figs. 6 and 7 show a longitudinal section .ofthe same mechanism with the breech closed and open, in which the trigger does not form part of the breech-block. Fig. 8 is a side elevation ot'the trigger-plate, showing the application of a spiral spring to the cocking-lever for the purpose of causing this latter to resume its original position after the cooking of the gun.

a is a gun having the whole length of the socket b of the breech scre'wed, as is seen in Fig. 2.

e is a breech-chamber, having at its lower part a strong fork, f, between the cheeks of which the extractor y can work, the extractor turning freely upon its pin h. A bridge, t', joins together the two cheeks of the fork, and serves for a bearin g for the hook j of the trigger-plate k.

l is a counter-fort piece, receiving the recoil at the time of the firing of the gun. It is shouldered into the wood of the stock, and receives the screw m, which joins the triggerplate to the tail end of the breech-box.

n is a strong spring, causing the whole of the breech-block to move upward onits hinge. The heel of this spring is fixed in the tail end of the breech-box by the screw 0, and its other end free to enter into a recess formed in the l breech-block, where it bears upon an anti-friction roller.

The breech-block s has in principle the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

The piece t, by which the gun is cooked, is fixed in a groove, or in any other convenient way, so as to permit of its easy and inexpensive removal and replacing by another piece in the case of its being worn out.

u is a leaf-spring, fixed by a screw, 1:, to the plate 00, serving to retain the cartridge in position after it has been introduced into the gun. This spring maintains the plate in its uppermost position, so that the bore of the gun is closed at the moment of firing.

Z is a trigger pivoting upon the pin 2, fixed in the cheeks, madein one piece with the trigger-plate 7a. This trigger acts by means ot'its hook l and its spring 3, fixed by means ot'the screw 4. to the trigger-plate k. The extension of the trigger-plate 5 protects the hand of the firer and prevents it coming in contact with the lever of the breech-block. This extension serves also as a piece for the left hand to rest upon when tiring.

g is an extractor, made in a single piece, with two branches, Figs. 5 and 5. It is placed in a recess made in the breech and pivots upon its pin it. The breech-block, arriving toward the lower part of its stroke, strikes sharply against the tail 7 of this extractor, which causes its upper part to pivot backward, and in consequence to throw out the empty cartridge-case backward from the barrel.

8 is a percussion-pin placed in the block of the breech. It is represented as just having struck in the center of the cartridge.

9 is a retracting-spring of the percussionpin.

10 is a hammer turning freelyaround its pin 11 in the block of the breech.

12 is a projection or embossment, made in one piece with the breech-box.

When the breech is caused to sharply move upward for the purpose of firing the gun, and when the closing of the bore is complete, the tail end of the hammer 10 comes into contact with the embossment 12, causing the head of this hammer to strike sharply the percussionpin and so fire off the gun. When the mechanism is again brought into a firing position the point of the percussion-pin re-enters the block on account of the action of the little spring 9. 7

At one of the extremities of the triggerplate is embedded the square piece 13, which comes out upon the piece for the bearing of the thumb, m being unscrewed, and the square piece serves as a spanner for turning the head of the screw which keeps in position the blockspring. The large screw m, which keeps the trigger-plate in positiou,terminates in the form of a screw-driver, and serves for taking to pieces and putting together the other parts of the gun.

I have represented in Figs. 6 and 7 a variation of the same type, in which the only change is that the lever does not form part of the block, this being rendered necessary on account of the employment of a very powerful spring for raising the block when firing, or even sometimes a double. spring, as represented in the drawings. By this arrangement more power is available for lowering the block, which is thus effected more easily, notwithstanding theincreased resistance of the sprin I have further arranged the little screw, which serves to fix the plate for closing completely the bore of the gun, with its point downward thus forming an abutment for the hammer, which thus prevents it from ever missing fire.

s is a breech-block.

a is a double spring for raising the block in order to fire the gun, which might be replaced by a very powerful single spring.

14 is a lever for effecting the lowering of the breech-block (serving at the same time as a trigger-guard) by means of the extension 15, forming part of the said lever. This lever turns on 16 on a check, 17, formingpart of the trigger-plate 7c. The oscillating axis 16 of the lever is formed by a screw. 18 is a curved back piece, against which rests the extension 15, which thus limits the course of this last.

19 is a screw which fixes the plate 00 t0 the breech-block. This screw has its point downward in order to serve as an abutment for the hammer 10.

I show in Fig. 8 the employment of a spiral spring, 20, shouldering at one end on a projection, 21, of the trigger-plate 7c, and pressing at the other on the extension 15 of the lever 14, in order that it may push back this last after the trigger has been cocked.

I am aware that a striker or hammer has been operated in a forward direction by a projection on a hinged breech-block near the end of its upward motion and thrown back by a spring; but

What I claim as new and of my invention 1. In a breech-loading fire-arm, the combination, with the central percussion-pin, 8, and

spring 9, of the oscillating hammer 10, the embossment 12, the oscillating bibranched extractor g, and the screw 19, as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the spring-retracted pin 8, of the curved lever-hammer 10, pivoted at 11 in the breech-block, and the breech-box having projection 12, whereby the hammer is made to strike the pin, as described.

3. The plate k, having projection 21, and the spiral spring 20, in combination with lever 14, having extension, as and for the purpose specified.

ALEXANDRE PIOARD.

Witnesses:

R0131. Hoornn, JEAN BAPTISTE HOLLAND. 

